The values of the biggest clubs in soccer have skyrocketed over the last five years, thanks in large part to revenue growth. A large portion of this revenue comes from jersey sponsorships, so it should come as no surprise that the three clubs with the largest jersey sponsorship deals also constitute the three most valuable soccer teams in the world.
At number three, it’s the four-year deal that Barcelona signed with Tokyo-based e-commerce site Rakuten back in 2016. That deal pays the Spanish club a whopping $60 million per year.
At number two, Manchester United’s stratospheric $71 million per year deal with American car manufacturer Chevrolet. Chevy’s deal places it on the front of United’s iconic jersey until 2021.
Finally, the top spot belongs to Real Madrid. The most successful club in European football signed a new deal with Dubai-based airline Emirates back in 2017, and the agreement — which runs through the 2020-21 season — pays Los Blancos a staggering $80 million per year.
What’s more, Real Madrid recently reached a 10-year, $1.26 billion agreement with jersey manufacturer adidas. For a bit of perspective, Nike paid the NBA $1 billion to make jerseys FOR ALL 30 NBA TEAMS back in 2015 — a number that Real Madrid trumps on its own!
It just goes to show, winning back-to-back-to-back Champions League titles is a recipe for financial success.
